Hamline University School of Law
Hamline University
Hamline University School of Law
1536 Hewitt Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55104
www.hamline.edu/law
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
Stacey Vogele MJF Staff Attorney
Nancy Lochner
Director of Career Services
nlochner@gw.hamline.edu
(651) 523-2470
Category Type
Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator (MJW)
Description of Program
In 1999, MJF launched its Law School Public Service Program, a collaborative effort that now includes the MJF, the four Minnesota law schools (Hamline University School of Law, University of Minnesota Law School, University of St. Thomas School of Law and William Mitchell College of Law), the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), and over 150 agencies. The Law School Public Service Program is designed to promote an ethic of public service in Minnesota law students and to increase the availability of legal services to Minnesota's low-income and disadvantaged populations. Through the Pro Bono Component each Minnesota law school asks its students to perform 50 hours of law-related public service and makes the commitment to have placements available. MJF coordinates the volunteer placements. Lists of opportunities are made available to students in hard copy and on the web. MJF oversees placements and receives feedback from both students and supervising attorneys concerning the placements. MJF has a Newsletter which is widely distributed three times a year. MJF has sponsored intensive street law placement opportunities for students during spring break.In recent years over winter and spring breaks, students have taught Street Law in Greater Minneapolis, assisted clients in completing immigration forms in Willmar, and participated in the Asylum Law Project, serving refugees in Texas and Florida.
Location of Program
MJF has a central administrative office off site, but has a staff member on site at Hamline half-time. That staff person shares space with the Student Bar Association in an area of high student traffic.
Staffing/Management/Oversight
The MJF administrative staff is located at the University of Minnesota. MJF has a full-time staff of 6 attorneys spread across three law schools and various part time college and law students. The Board of Directors is made up of law students, private attorneys, legal services attorneys and client-eligible community members. Three students (from each school) sit on MJF's Board of Directors. Drawn from the membership of MJF's student chapters, these students help steer the agency and its programs - including its law school pro bono program. Each School also appoints several of its own law students to its own Public Service Committee. Students also serve on the Legal Assistance to the Disadvantaged Committee of the Minnesota State Bar Association, as well as its Law School Initiatives Subcommittee, where the law school public service program collaboration partners monitor and support the program.
Funding
HUSL underwrites the MJF staff attorney position with a substantial "donation" and in-kind office space, equipment and supplies.
Student Run Pro Bono Groups/Specialized Law Education Projects
MJF Student Chapter – MJF staff, legal services attorneys and alternative learning center teachers train law students to teach low-income, at-risk high school students their basic legal rights, responsibilities and resources. In addition, Hamline students teach Street Law in Duluth over their Spring Break.
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
Awards/Recognition
A reception is held annually by MJF to recognize students who have completed 50 hours of pro bono service. Each year it is held at one of the four law school members of MJF, and all students who have completed the 50 hours from the 4 schools are presented with a certificateEach student who has completed 50 hours of pro bono service is recognized in the graduation program.
Community Service
Law School Public Interest Programs
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Contact Information
Nancy LochnerDirector of Career Services
nlochner@gw.hamline.edu
(651) 523-2470
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
Public Interest Centers
Minnesota Justice Foundation – The MJF administrative staff is located at the University of Minnesota. MJF has a full-time staff of 6 attorneys spread across three law schools and various part time college and law students. The Board of Directors is made up of law students, private attorneys, legal services attorneys and client-eligible community members. Three students (from each school) sit on MJF's Board of Directors. Drawn from the membership of MJF's student chapters, these students help steer the agency and its programs - including
Public Interest Clinics
Mediation Clinic Child Advocacy
Education Law Clinic
Employment Discrimination Mediation Representation Clinic
Innocence Clinic
Small Business/Non-profit Clinic
State Public Defender Clinic
Student Director Clinic
Externships/Internships
Hamline provides two practicums with public interest placements: the Public Interest practicum takes up to 8 students who are placed at legal services agencies (such as Legal Aid, Centro Legal, etc), and the Criminal Law Practicum which places about half of the students with public defender or county attorney offices.
Classes with a Public Service Component
Public Interest Journals
26 Hamline J. Publ.L & P 195
Public Interest Career Assistance
Each year the four local law schools collaborate to host a fair highlighting public interest careers and employers.Individual counseling, mock interviewing, resume review
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
For a description, see http://www.lrapmn.org
Post-Graduate Fellowships/Awards
Law School Funded:
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Term Time Fellowships/Scholarships
Law School Funded:
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Students who are eligible may work at public interest organizations being paid through Hamline's Federal work study money.
Elsie Leavitt Blackhurst Public Service Award - http://www.hamline.edu/law/development/list_of_scholarships.html
Justice James C. Otis Memorial public interest scholarship - http://www.hamline.edu/law/development/list_of_scholarships.html
Summer Fellowships
Law School Funded:
The student chapter of MJF annually raises money to support 1 to 3 clerkships at $4000 each. Hamline contributes a portion of another summer clerkship annually thorugh its budget and Hamline uses federal work study funds to support other students working in public interest positions.
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Programs
Public Law Heroes Brown Bag Lunch Series – On a monthly basis, speakers who practice in the area or who volunteer a significant amount of time to pro bono work speak to students, faculty & staff.
Student Public Interest Groups
